Decision COP 16/7

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling the International Decade of Indigenous Languages 2022–2032,

Noting that, at its twelfth meeting, the Ad Hoc Open-ended Intersessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity conducted an in-depth dialogue on the theme “The role of languages in the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices”,

Noting also that, through languages, indigenous peoples and local communities preserve the history, customs and traditions, memory, unique modes of thinking, meaning and expression of their communities,

Noting further that, in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Conference of the Parties acknowledged the important roles and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity, their rights, knowledge, including traditional knowledge associated with biodiversity, innovations, world views, values and practices,

Recognizing that, in Target 21 of the Framework, it called for the best available data, information and knowledge to be made accessible to decision makers, practitioners and the public to guide effective and equitable governance and the integrated and participatory management of biodiversity and to strengthen communication, awareness-raising, education, monitoring, research and knowledge management, and, also in that context, for the traditional knowledge, innovations, practices and technologies of indigenous peoples and local communities to only be granted access to with their free, prior and informed consent, and that, in Targets 22 and 23 of the Framework and in the Gender Plan of Action (2023–2030), it also called for gender equality to be ensured in the implementation of the Framework through a gender-responsive approach, whereby all women and girls have equal opportunity and capacity to contribute to the three objectives of the Convention,

Recognizing also that the contribution of the languages of indigenous peoples and local communities and traditional knowledge to addressing global biodiversity loss, as well as the role of indigenous women and those from local communities in the processes of knowledge transmission in that respect, is necessary to achieve the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature,

Recognizing further that diverse languages and knowledge systems reflect the strong and collective relationships of indigenous peoples and local communities, including indigenous women and those from local communities, with nature and cultural values that uphold the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and, therefore, can provide human and ecological systems with greater adaptability to and capacity to cope with current crises and strengthen social, economic and ecological resilience,

Recognizing the relevance of the Joint Programme of Work on the Links between Biological and Cultural Diversity and Target 22 of the Framework, and emphasizing the need for Parties and all actors involved in processes under the Convention and its Protocols to understand concepts, cosmovisions and epistemologies of indigenous peoples and local communities;

1. Invites Parties to fully acknowledge the role of languages of indigenous peoples and local communities, and in that regard the particular role of indigenous women and those from local communities, youth and relevant stakeholders, in the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices among indigenous peoples and local communities, as it relates to the objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and, more broadly, the links between biological and cultural diversity;

2. Encourages Parties, other Governments, relevant organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, women, youth and other relevant stakeholders to incorporate, as appropriate, the conservation and revitalization of the languages of indigenous peoples and local communities, including through concrete actions, such as support for community initiatives for cultural and resource centres and field schools, given their fundamental role in the intergenerational transmission of traditional knowledge, into the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols and the Framework, including through the updating and revision of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and the preparation of the seventh and subsequent national reports;

3. Decides that the theme of the next in-depth dialogue shall be “Strategies for mobilizing resources to ensure the availability of and access to financial resources and funding, as well as other means of implementation, including capacity-building, development and technical support for indigenous peoples and local communities, including women and youth, to support the full implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework”.